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Senate Committee Discusses Ageism in Health Care

WASHINGTON D.C. — June 6, 2003 — Ageism pervades the United States medical system, often preventing seniors from receiving the care they need, according to a report released at a recent hearing of the Senate Special Committee on Aging. The study, presented by the Alliance for Aging Research, points out that bias about the elderly can lead to increased rates of senior disability, depression, loss of independence, and even premature death.

The main problems highlighted in the report were:

Healthcare professionals do not receive enough training in geriatrics. Only about 10% of U.S. medical schools require course work in geriatric medicine. Only 720 out of 200,000 pharmacies nationwide have geriatric certifications.
Seniors are less likely than younger people to receive preventive care such as vaccines. Also, some physicians may feel that it is too late for seniors to begin exercise routines, although physical activity can reduce falls and increase overall health. Even though the elderly account for 70% of smoking–related deaths, Medicare does not cover smoking cessation programs.
Depression may be underdiagnosed and undertreated among the elderly. The senior suicide rate is four times the national average; 75% of older adults that commit suicide do so within four weeks of seeing their primary care physician.
Older patients are less likely to be tested or screened for certain diseases and health problems, including HIV/AIDS and substance abuse. Nine out of ten adults over the age of 65 go without necessary screenings.
Too often, elderly patients face inappropriate invasive operations, such as multiple heart surgeries. Others may be denied life–saving surgeries based on the mistaken idea that a patient’s age alone rules out certain procedures.
Seniors are consistently excluded from clinical trials, even though they comprise the largest group of prescription drug users.
Seniors are more likely to be subject to overmedication, undermedication, or the misuse of approved drugs.

Solutions to Senior Health Care Issues

People over 65 made up 13% of the population in 2000. By 2030, they will comprise 20% of the population. Unless attitudes change, these seniors will face growing problems with the health care system, the report concludes. Based on the study, Dan Perry, the executive director of the Alliance for Aging Research, recommended the reform of medical education so that every doctor, nurse and health professional would have adequate training in geriatrics. He also suggested that Congress consider legislation creating incentives to include older people as subjects in clinical trials. Finally, he recommended that researchers concentrate on studying and creating standards for senior health screening and preventive health care.

Other witnesses before the Senate Committee included Dr. Joel Streim, President of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry, and Dr. James Marks of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Streim stressed the need for proper follow–up and attention in treating depression among the elderly. Dr Marks identified the CDC’s priorities for seniors, which include increasing the use of flu and pneumonia vaccines as well as screening for chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

The text of the witness testimonies at the hearing before the Senate Committee on Aging can be found on the agency’s web site. You may locate the report by the Alliance for Aging Research on that group’s web site. The file may take a few minutes to load, and you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to access it. If you do not already have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, you may download a free copy.

At Brayton Purcell, we are concerned with issues that effect the health and welfare of seniors, and keep up–to–date about laws and cases involving the elderly. Should you or an elderly relative ever have a problem concerning elder abuse or medical malpractice, please feel free to contact us to learn about your legal options. We are experienced in all facets of elder abuse law, including nursing home abuse and inadequate pain management.

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